Abstract Background Patients with severe coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) may require the use of invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) for prolonged periods. Aggressive MV parameters have been ...associated with changes in intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with acute intracranial disorders. Significant ICP elevation could compromise intracranial compliance (ICC) and cerebrovascular hemodynamics (CVH). However, the effects of these parameters in individuals without neurological disorders have not yet been evaluated. Objective To evaluate ICC in patients on MV with COVID-19 infection compared to other diagnoses, to better characterize the effects of MV and COVID-19 upon ICC. We also compared between the ICC in patients with COVID-19 who did not require MV and healthy volunteers, to assess the isolated effect of COVID-19 upon ICC. Methods This was an exploratory, observational study with a convenience sample. The ICC was evaluated with a noninvasive ICP monitoring device. The P2/P1 ratio was calculated by dividing the amplitude of these two points, being defined as “abnormal” when P2 > P1. The statistical analysis was performed using a mixed linear model with random effects to compare the P2/P1 ratio in all four groups on the first monitoring day. Results A convenience sample of 78 subjects (15 MV-COVID-19, 15 MV non-COVID-19, 24 non-MV-COVID-19, and 24 healthy participants) was prospectively enrolled. There was no difference in P2/P1 ratios between MV patients with and without COVID-19, nor between non-MV patients with COVID-19 and healthy volunteers. However, the P2/P1 ratio was higher in COVID-19 patients with MV use than in those without it. Conclusion This exploratory analysis suggests that COVID-19 does not impair ICC.
Women in Neurosurgery (WIN) have come a long way and are making inroads in every neurosurgical subspecialty. There has been a worldwide increase in the number of female neurosurgeons both in the ...training and practice. Although this is a welcome trend, gender equality at work in terms of opportunities, promotions, and pay scales are yet to be attained. This is more apparent in the developing and underdeveloped nations. Barriers for a female neurosurgeon exist in every phase before entering residency, during training, and at workplace. In the neurosurgical specialty, only a few women are in chief academic and leadership positions, and this situation needs to improve. WIN should be motivated to pursue fellowships, sub-specialty training, research, and academic activities. Furthermore, men should come forward to mentor women, only then the gender debates will disappear and true excellence in neurosurgery can be attained. This article reviews the issues that are relevant in the present era focusing on the barriers faced by female neurosurgeons in the developing and underdeveloped countries and the possible solutions to achieve gender equality in neurosurgery. The authors also present the data from the World WIN Directory collected as a part of Asian Congress of Neurological Surgeons-WINS project 2019. These numbers are expected to grow as the WIN progress and add value to the neurosurgical community at large.
The project proposes three innovative intervention techniques (treadmill training, mobility training with virtual reality and transcranial direct current stimulation that can be safely administered ...to children with cerebral palsy. The combination of transcranial stimulation and physical therapy resources will provide the training of a specific task with multiple rhythmic repetitions of the phases of the gait cycle, providing rich sensory stimuli with a modified excitability threshold of the primary motor cortex to enhance local synaptic efficacy and potentiate motor learning.
A prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled, analytical, clinical trial will be carried out.Eligible participants will be children with cerebral palsy classified on levels I, II and III of the Gross Motor Function Classification System between four and ten years of age. The participants will be randomly allocated to four groups: 1) gait training on a treadmill with placebo transcranial stimulation; 2) gait training on a treadmill with active transcranial stimulation; 3) mobility training with virtual reality and placebo transcranial stimulation; 4) mobility training with virtual reality and active transcranial stimulation. Transcranial direct current stimulation will be applied with the anodal electrode positioned in the region of the dominant hemisphere over C3, corresponding to the primary motor cortex, and the cathode positioned in the supraorbital region contralateral to the anode. A 1 mA current will be applied for 20 minutes. Treadmill training and mobility training with virtual reality will be performed in 30-minute sessions five times a week for two weeks (total of 10 sessions). Evaluations will be performed on four occasions: one week prior to the intervention; one week following the intervention; one month after the end of the intervention;and 3 months after the end of the intervention. The evaluations will involve three-dimensional gait analysis, analysis of cortex excitability (motor threshold and motor evoked potential), Six-Minute Walk Test, Timed Up-and-Go Test, Pediatric Evaluation Disability Inventory, Gross Motor Function Measure, Berg Balance Scale, stabilometry, maximum respiratory pressure and an effort test.
This paper offers a detailed description of a prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled, analytical, clinical trial aimed at demonstrating the effect combining transcranial stimulation with treadmill and mobility training on functionality and primary cortex excitability in children with Cerebral Palsy classified on Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I, II and III. The results will be published and will contribute to evidence regarding the use of treadmill training on this population.
ReBEC RBR-9B5DH7.
The development of modern neuroendoscopic technology brought back the use of choroid plexus surgery for the treatment of some patients with hydrocephalus. This study explored the use of endoscopic ...coagulation of the choroid plexus (ECCP) for the treatment of severely advanced forms of hydrocephalus in three children.
Three children with markedly dilated ventricles underwent ECCP. The first child had fetal hydranencephaly, the second had holoprosencephaly, and the third had severe hydrocephalus associated with other congenital malformations. All three children had had previous ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts, and ECCP was done because of shunt malfunction. All three children underwent computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging to confirm the presence and to measure the size of the choroid plexus before surgery. ECCP was performed through a right frontal burr hole. A rigid neuroendoscope and monopolar coagulator were used to achieve choroid plexus coagulation.
The first child died 21 days after surgery because of generalized infection originating from the lungs. The second child needed a ventriculoatrial shunt 45 days after ECCP, and the third child needed VP shunt 3 months after ECCP.
ECCP, although not an alternative to ventricular shunt, is a safe procedure and should be tried in some children with severe advanced, low progressive, and hopeless forms of hydrocephalus. Long-term watchful follow-up is mandatory after surgery. When the risk of complications after VP shunting is relatively high in children with severe forms of hydrocephalus, ECCP seems to be worth trying. Delayed timing of VP shunting after ECCP would be meaningful for children with a high risk of shunt complications.
Resumo
Objetivo:
Caracterizar o grau de acometimento neurológico, estabelecendo uma correlação entre o nível funcional da lesão e a aquisição da marcha, além de identificar os fatores que interferem ...nessa capacidade.
Método:
Foram avaliadas prospectivamente vinte e oito crianças portadoras de mielomeningocele operadas com idade igual ou superior a três anos. Foram determinados o nível funcional da lesão, a aquisição ou não da marcha e os fatores associados por meio das medidas do grau de força muscular nos membros inferiores, presença de deformidades articulares, ocorrência de contratura da musculatura flexora e trato iliotibial, eficácia da reação de equilíbrio e presença de hidrocefalia tratada.
Resultados:
Todos os fatores avaliados, exceto a hidrocefalia, foram relacionados de forma significativa à aquisição da marcha.
Conclusão:
A aquisição da marcha em crianças portadoras de mielomeningocele sofre influência de vários fatores, além do nível de acometimento neurológico, o que deve ser considerado no prognóstico e na programação terapêutica.
Este trabalho visou analisar o impacto dos níveis de lesão, deambulação e alterações neurológicas associadas ao quadro clínico da mielomeningocele sobre o desempenho funcional de seus portadores. ...Neste estudo transversal prospectivo foram examinadas 40 crianças com mielomeningocele, avaliando-se nível de lesão, deambulação, malformação de Arnold-Chiari, hidrocefalia, hidromielia, medula ancorada e incontinência esfincteriana. O desempenho funcional foi avaliado pelo Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), para um registro quantitativo da capacidade funcional e autonomia nas atividades cotidianas, nas áreas de autocuidado, mobilidade e função social. Os dados coletados foram analisados estatisticamente, estabelecendo-se o nível de significância em p<0,05. Os níveis de lesão e a deambulação influenciaram significativamente (p<0,01) os escores das três áreas do PEDI. Os graus de limitação foram diretamente proporcionais ao nível de lesão. O maior acometimento foi verificado no autocuidado e na mobilidade, tendo as crianças obtido melhor pontuação na área de função social. Nos pacientes com nível de lesão torácico, a hidromielia sintomática mostrou-se fator significativo na área de autocuidado (p<0,01). Conclui-se que os níveis de lesão e a deambulação influenciam, com impactos diferenciados, cada área do desempenho funcional. Em pacientes com lesão torácica, a hidromielia sintomática pode ser apontada como fator limitante do autocuidado.
This study aimed at analysing the impact of level of lesion, locomotion, and neurological changes associated to meningomyelocele clinical framework concerning functional performance. For this prospective cross-sectional study 40 children with meningomyelocele were assessed as to level of lesion, ambulatory ability, Arnold-Chiari malformation, hydrocephalus, hydromyelia, tethered cord, and sphincter incontinence. Functional performance was evaluated by the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) which quantitatively assesses functional performance and independence in daily activities in the areas of self-care, mobility, and social functioning. Collected data were statistically analysed and the significance level set at p<0.05. Lesion levels and ambulatory ability had a significant (p<0.01) impact on scores of all three PEDI areas. Limitation degree was found to be directly proportional to level of lesion. Functional performance was more severely affected in self-care and mobility activities, and the best functional scores being obtained in social functioning. In patients with thoracic lesion level, symptomatic hydromyelia proved to be a significant factor for self-care (p<0.01). Lesion level and ambulatory ability thus may be said to influence, at different levels of impact, each area of functional performance. For patients with thoracic lesion level, symptomatic hydromyelia may be pointed out as a self-care limiting factor.
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